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Member News
12/15//06 Jef Mallett, King Of All Media
12/14//06 Little Dogs & M&Ms UPDATED 12/15/06
11/29//06 Dinette Set Visit
11/20//06 Pick Best of Best Borgman
11/20//06 Dan Davis Speaks
11/12//06 Borgman on Stahler
11/11//06 GLC Goes To The Fair
11/ 6//06 Agnes: So Nice They Ran It Twice
10/27//06 It Must Be True
10/26//06 Jenny Takes Off Coat; Stays Awhile
10/25//06 Keith Chronicles the GLC
10/11//06 Lucy: Talk Of The Nation
10/11//06 Cynicalman vs. Lizardgirl!
9/20//06 New Stormfield
9/17//06 More Nevada Passage
9/13//06 Polly Draws Foxes
BOB & TOM & JEF
Our far-flung correspondent (and chapter secretary), Ed Black, writes:
I don't know if you get "The Bob & Tom Show" down that way on FM. They're on from 5:30 to 10:00 am each day and are funny. Lately, almost on a daily basis, they've been praising GLC member Jef ("Frazz") Mallett because he designed the cover of their new CD. Mallett was on as a guest last week. If you can't get them on the radio, go to www.bobandtom.com and they've got a little thing about Jef on their website.
Here's an early Christmas present -- Our first look at Steve Boreman's Little Dog Lost, his new strip which hits papers on March 27, 2007 via the Washington Post Writers Group. Steve says: The premise is simple: it's about a little dog who is lost and the hungry vulture who is always lurking nearby. I like to think of it as a bunch of parables in comic strip form.
We'll pump Steve for more info between now and the launch date. In the meantime, check out these beautiful sample strips:
WHAT, MORE STEVE BOREMAN NEWS?
We told you way back here about Steve Boreman's mural work at the M&M World Store in Orlando, Florida. Now the mural has put in an appearance in the latest issue of Newsweek, of all places. Check it out HERE.
And, click HERE for more photos from the M&M World Store.
DINETTE SET
GLC members Chris Payne, with wife Paula; and Craig Boldman, were on hand at the Monfort Heights Public Library in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Saturday, November 18 to hear a talk by visiting cartoonist Julie Larson. Julie (pictured, right) writes and draws The Dinette Set, a humor panel syndicated by Creators. Julie's appearance attracted a large crowd of die-hard fans. The Dinette Set runs in The Cincinnati Enquirer.
PICK YOUR BORGMAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer is soliciting reader input in selecting the finalists for their annual Best Of Borgman editorial cartoon roundup. Jim Borgman has put 30 of his best cartoons of the year on the table for online browsers to rate and offer comments. The three most insightful respondents will score an autographed memento from Jim.
This contest runs through December 10, so get on it!
DAN DAVIS GETS ANIMATED
There's a nice new online interview with Dan Davis at The Pulse in which he discusses his work at DC Comics, the impact of computers on the inking biz, and much more. If that's not enough for you, there's also a DD interview in the latest issue of the downloadable GLyph newsletter.
BORGMAN ON STAHLER
Fellow editorial cartoonist Jeff Stahler was the subject of Jim Borgman's opinion column in the 11/12/06 edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer. It previously appeared as a post in Jim's blog.
BUCKEYE BOOK FAIR
Here are glimpses of GLC members at this year's Buckeye Book Fair, which took place on Saturday, November 4 in Wooster, Ohio. Each year around 100 writers, illustrators and photographers appear at the fair to sell their latest books.
The Buckeye Book Fair began in 1987 as a literary event to raise funds to support literacy in Ohio. Since inception, more than $190,000 has been distributed to schools, public libraries, and literacy programs in Ohio. Proceeds from the sales of books are the primary source of funding for the grants.
Tony Cochran and Ron Hill were exhibitors. Dan Collins just dropped by to make trouble.
Chip Bok was there, moving and autographing copies of his latest, A Recent History of the United States in Political Cartoons: A Look Bok (Law, Politics, and Society).
There's Tony with both of his Agnes collections, and Ron with the 4,762 titles in his "Armchair Theologeons" series. Also at the fair, but not pictured: Jared Lee and Jenny Campbell.
If you missed the fair, never fear. All of these fine books are available at the GLyph store. Thanks to Dan Collins for these photos!
SLOW NEWS DAY
Hmm, Jeremy and Hector seem to have gotten a makeover in the November 6 edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Actually this Agnes strip displaced Zits somehow, while also appearing in its regular slot, six rows below. So, Agnes fans got a sense of deja vu, while Zits followers got a sense of S.O.L.
ALIEN ARRESTED, NAMED IN PATERNITY SUIT
As of the November 13, 2006 issue, the GLC's Craig Boldman joins cartoonist Stephen DeStefano in producing the comic strip Alien Baby for the Weekly World News.
Boldman and DeStefano have collaborated in the past on such projects as the DC comic book series 'Mazing Man, as well as Jimmy Neutron stories for Nickelodeon Magazine. For Alien Baby, Boldman does the writing and layouts with DeStefano handling the finished artwork.
Alien Baby, a continuing serial, is based on the true story of Stacey McCauley and her son Ethan, whose lives are complicated by dealings with Ethan's deadbeat dad, Moogera, who hails from the distant star Beta Pictoris. Stacey's situation was originally brought to light in reports appearing in the Weekly World News.
JENNY STICKS AROUND
Our friend Jennifer Robb has a new title to go with her new long-term status at the OSU Cartoon Research Library in Columbus, Ohio. Jenny, who has been Visiting Assistant Curator at the Library since May of 2005, is now Associate Curator and Assistant Professor of same. "The main difference is that I'm now in a tenure-track faculty position instead of short-term 'visiting' position," says Jenny.
Jenny's duties include assisting curator Lucy Caswell in developing, organizing, and cataloguing the collection; curating exhibitions; planning educational programs; and providing assistance with reference and research services. She also serves as a representative of the library to cartoonists, collectors, patrons and donors.
K: THE ENCORE
After graciously consenting to speak and entertain us at the recent GLC chapter meeting in Columbus, San Francisco cartoonist Keith Knight went the extra mile and immortalized the event in the 10/23/06 installment of his strip, The K Chronicles.
Click HERE to visit the K Chronicles at GoComics.com.
And, click the panel above, or HERE to see the installment in question, which also spotlights the OCU Cartoon Research Library.
Thanks again, Keith!
LUCY SPEAKS TO THE NATION
Lucy Shelton Caswell, curator of the Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library was the October 10 guest on NPR's Talk Of The Nation program. CLICK HERE to give it a listen.
BLASTING FROM PAST
While on the subject of NPR, let's also harken back to August 21, 2004, when Agnes cartoonist Tony Cochran was a special guest on the NPR show, Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me! during the segment entitled Not My Job.
AND MORE FEAZELL
How to add extra interest to the life drawing session? In Hamtramck, Michigan, home base of the GLC's Matt Freazell, they had an idea that seems somehow obvious and yet fiendishly brilliant. Matt and other Detroit and Hamtramck cartoonists meet periodically for "Anti-Art School" life drawing soirees during which they draw non-traditional models, such as local burlesque diva Sparkly Devil.
Glad to hear that the art scene is thriving in Hamtramck. Click the link to read more about it.
THE AMAZING CYNICALMAN
I feel like taking a break from all this hard news to watch some cartoons, don't you? Here's Matt Feazell's The Amazing Cynicalman, adapted to Flash animation by superhappydvd.com's Jim Mackey (who was a guest of the GLC at the Pig Iron chapter meeting).
WES ALEXANDER UPDATE
Wes Alexander, who, with Rob Harrell, comprises the Texas annex of the Great Lakes Chapter, has released a new 40-page collection of Stormfield, the weekly strip he does through DBR Media. Haunt your local comics shop or check the GLC Bookstore to order. Below is an interview Wes did for the Hearne News of Hearne, Texas.
SANDRA WILLIAMS- Let me start off by asking when your interest in cartooning began.WES ALEXANDER- Oh, it's hard to say, actually. When I was very young, my Grandmother had a collection of all the PEANUTS books. I guess my interest grew from reading and re-reading those multiple times.
SW- So, would you say that you've wanted to be a cartoonist your whole life?
WA- Off and on. At one point I wanted to be a magician and later on, a film director. Then even later, I dreamed of being Darth Vader which I still yearn for to this day. That kind of career requires too many sacrifices, though, with the getting burned in a river of lava and all.
SW- How long have you been a cartoonist?
WA- I got my first gig in 1988. At the time, I lived in Homestead, Florida. I stopped in a local print shop to make copies of some strips I had drawn. It turned out that the owner published a local magazine and he offered me a job, then and there. Since then, I've drawn cartoons for loads of publications, books and newspapers.
SW- Who are some of your favorite cartoonists, the ones who inspired you the most?
WA- Oh, wow! I'd have to start off with Jeff MacNelly, who, in my view, was one of the greatest of all time! I've always loved the work of Charles Schulz, Bill Watterson and Will Eisner. Of the cartoonists working today, I'd have to say Jim Borgman who draws the great comic strip, ZITS and Jeff Smith, creator of the BONE comic book series. Both of these guys are just amazingly brilliant!
SW- Let's talk a bit about your comic strip. How long have you been drawing STORMFIELD?
WA- It's been syndicated by DBR Media since April of 2000 but I've been developing it since the late 80's.
SW- You seem to have a natural affinity for children, as your strip revolves, almost exclusively, around them. Except for the teacher, MISS PRUITT, there are almost no adults. Why is that?
WA- I just find adults to be very boring. Adulthood is worrying about leaks in the basement, paying the car insurance, and all the stuff that makes life a bit hum-drum. Children are just much more interesting to draw and write about. The world that exists in their minds is utterly limitless.
SW- Where did your characters, ALEX and DALTON, come from.
WA- I've always been a bit of a Mark Twain nut, so I guess these characters are my own versions of TOM SAWYER and HUCK FINN. I find, though, that Alex and Dalton rarely receive the same literary acclaim as Tom and Huck.
SW- What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
WA- To wear a black cape and a cool mask, have my own Star Destroyer with an officer's staff that fears me and to crush the Rebel Alliance, once and for all!
MORE NEVADA PASSAGE
Sorry for the awful quality of the screen captures, but above are a few glimpses of Frazz's Jef Mallett shirking his drawing board duties to appear on The Nevada Passage Adventure Competition. Why don't we have railroad handcar contests at the Reuben weekends? Besides pumping a rail car handle, Jef also runs like a crazy man and rides on a bike inside a big bag on this syndicated reality show. It's wild stuff, man. I am sorry I didn't get to see Jef ride a bull, though, but maybe next year. I shan't tell you how the competition turns out in case there's still wagering going on, but this is just to alert you that you might still have a chance to catch the program when it airs in your town. Check here.
POLLY'S LATEST
Polly Keener ("Hamster Alley") is the illustrator of a new book from CreoXimius Publishing. Fox: Lost and Found, written by singer and fitness expert Debrae Barensfeld, is the true-life story of a silver fox that Barensfeld rescued and kept as a pet.
Polly decorates the tale with 50+ illustrations.
As usual, the best place to find this volume is the GLC Online Bookstore, where you can find published works by many chapter members. Christmas isn't far away, you know!